Yes, I agree here. I do not think there is anything physically we really can do to change the result. On my first attempt I wrapped myself up in cotton wool too much. For my second attempt (not sure when that will be yet - probably sometime beginning of next year - Feb or so ) I am going to tackle the IVF slightly differently - by trying not to think about it too much and to trust in my body and really limit the people I tell about my treatment. I will relax, chill, go with the flow and do all the things I would normally do. I would definately say I thought about it too much the first time around.

12 days after the receipt of my negative result I am feeling much better and back to my old usual self. If I can survive what I have just been through, I can survive anything. The hurt has gone and time has healed, as it always does with me.

I have read some of your don't list and am completely gobsmacked and confused by all the conflicting advice.

My clinic told me to take a few days off after egg collection and to rest for a day after transfer but nothing else. I was advised to avoid housework and heavy lifting for a few days and drink water.

I am on day nine after my transfer and am back at work. Most of my work involves using a PC. I have had one bath and done a minimal amount of shopping yesterday and walked up 4 flights of stairs (very slowly). I have cut out most caffaine drinks except for the odd cup of tea and had chocolate yesterday. My body is still very swollen so I am not as mobile as normal and it does take me a long time to even walk a few steps so I am just going with it.

Normally work can be stressful but I have taken the attitude that I don't care and am able to laugh most things off. I obviously haven't followed all the don't list but feel that you need to feel positive in yourself and not get to paranoid about everything. Unfortunately like most women I don't have the luxury of tucking myself into bed and switching off from the world. I will be disappointed if I get a negative result but feel that like some of you have said. If you feel concerned about something then avoid doing it. The important thing to me is to ensure that during this difficult time you feel and know in your heart and mind that you have given things your best shot and not to beat yourself up about every little thing.

Hi,
I am anxiously awaiting my test on Sat. This is my third ivf (first two were unsuccesful). Had four transferred this time and all were good quality! Fingers crossed!
My clinic told me absolutley no excercise, no lifting, no baths or hottubs, no swimming, no alcohol, no intercourse, no housework.
In the past I was told no lifting over ten pounds. That helps clarify a little but then every time I picked something up I was wondering how much it weighed! lol
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

I told the nurse of my clinic about some of the stuff I read here... about how other clinics forbid their patients to have baths (she burst out laughing and said it was ridiculous! That made me choose not to talk about the chocolate and cotton wool and ginger and ice cream and so on... ) and how some recommended bed rest (she said it was unncessary). My clinic recommended me the logical stuff: no intercourse (orgasms stimulate uterine contractions, very mild, but still, and make the cervix move, not to mention the intercourse itself), intense or violent exercise, lifting more than 10 pounds. For the rest, of course, one must act as if pregnant. No drugs or alcohol and such.

Just a note about baths, though. It's TRUE that you can't take baths for a good week after any surgery that left a wound on your skin. Some clinics do egg retrieval through general anaesthesia and laparoscopy. Of course people can't take baths then because of infection risks! They have surgery wounds!! But with more "mainstream" ER, there's no reason to worry about infections. The thing about hottubs is that pregnant women are told to be very CAREFUL about taking too hot jacuzzis (same for kids under 12), because the too hot water could make their blood pressure rise too much and cause trouble. But they're not forbidden to take hot tubs or jacuzzis because of that; just told to be careful about water temperature.

As for work, she told me some patients ask for a doctor's paper to get off work till the pregnancy blood test. She said it's completely unncessary. She insisted that implantation occurs within 3 to 5 days after transfer, so two weeks off work is unnecessary. If one's work does not involve a possibility of shocks, physical stuff or very stressful stuff, it's absolutely not needed to miss more than the day of the transfer, she said. Given Procrea's amazing success rates and her 11 years of experience at the clinic, I tend to believe her advice.

But there's more. I checked on MEDline for scientific articles on IVF and specifically about bed rest. I don't remember who here is a massage therapist and talked about the dangers of bed rest for blood circulation, but she was totally right. ALL of the studies I read concluded that bed rest after embryo transfer, whether as little as 20 minutes after transfer or 24 hours after transfer, has absolutely no impact on implantation or pregnancy rates.

The reason why some clinics still recommend it is that, at the very beginning of IVF procedures, when the knowledge was not as detailed as it is today, doctors recommended complete bed rest because it was the logical thing for them to do. And then gradually, people started to question that and tested that theory. The results are there, and on thousands of IVF patients. It makes no difference. If your clinic recommends you 48 hours of complete bed rest, I would question them about whether or not they've read the recent scientific literature.

Some studies went further than just testing whether or not bed rest makes a difference, however. They tested whether bed rest had a negative impact on implantation and pregnancy rates. Some studies found it is the case. They compared a 20 minutes bed rest after transfer to a 24h bed rest and found that the women who were in bed rest for 24 hours had significantly lower implantation and pregnancy rates than the others.

Some of these studies also tested other things patients did despite what their clinic recommended: walking slower, no exercise at all, avoiding stairs, and so on. Again... no impact on implantation or pregnancy whatsoever.

It's tempting for me to do all these things anyway as well; I'm like all of you, I want to give it the best try possible. However, I'll keep these studies in mind and I'll keep the nurse's advice in mind. Don't misunderstand me; I don't judge those who'll choose to do all kinds of small and big extra things in hopes that it will impact on their chances, but I'll do my best to avoid doing that. Those things are done so women feel better about themselves and are reassured, but medically, it has no use whatsoever. And in some cases, when you limit yourself so much that you either become overstressed, unhappy, or impair your blood flow by staying too inactive, it can actually impact negatively on your chances.

Hi... I am new to the board but have been stalking it for quite some time...and it has been so helpful and encouraging...so I thank all of you for your posts. I have had 3 iui's with Clomid- nothing worked. My husband and I decided to go ahead with IVF in March. I just received ALL of my medications (AND needles...yikes I have to say that's a little scary).

But anyway, If all goes as planned...AF will arrive around March 9, will start Med's on March 11-12. Small problem...my sister's bachelorette party is in Vegas that next weekend, March 16-18, which a lot of our friends and family will be there and DO NOT know anything about the procedure. I am wondering 1st of all, if it is OK to fly prior to the egg retrieval and 2nd...is it ok to consume alcohol (in moderation of course) prior to egg retrieval, which will probably take place the following week(March 20-21).

Obviously, I know that you shouldn't do any of that AFTER the procedure, but am a little worried about the number and size of the follicles, flying and possible alcohol consumption and would like to hear your thoughts on what you can do the week before...esp since I will be taking so much medication.

Your question about flying, A good friend here, Souris, told me that she was told my 2 different doctors that it was fine to fly 3 days after the transfer as it does not bother the embies for implantation whatsoever. The important thing is to not make yourself too tired. And the other very important thing is not to fly if you have hyperstimulation.

Good luck. Don't worry too much, you will be fine. Keep posted

Luv, Jemma

PS : I have no idea about the alcohol. But my clinic said no... no.. no...

Jemima-- Thanks for your response. Well...it looks like my AF has come a little early (atleast a week early- which is weird). I have been spotting today...so it will probably be here tomorrow. I will not be flying to Vegas...I will drive and no alcohol for me!

It looks like I will be starting my ivf treatments a little earlier than expected. I have an appointment on Thursday with my RE to get the scoop on how and when to take them all...wish me luck!

And can i just add, this is all just everyones opinion and some people will do these things and others wont, you have to do whats best for you and your lifestyle!!!

I agree with the bathing and infecion, total bed rest is just plain silly if u ask me!! As think about it, when u naturally get pregnant you dont go back to bed for 2wweks!!! Just be aware that u mustn't over do and chill more, but 24hr best rest for 2wws!!!!

i was told not to drive a car for any long distance. so the both times we got pregnat we waited 2 days first day at our wonderful hotel room dh and i dreamed our dream and enjoyed movies and the quite.
after the second day we drove home. i started to blleed bad.
so the next time we got pregnant stayed at our room 3 days.
no bleeding. no i didnt stay in bed but was careful not to left anything heavy and was careful.

couldnt go in the hot tub..
good luck to everyone

we werent blessed with our babies to raise here but we our blessed with our grandaughterand all of our many adopted and foster children that touch our livesand i am glad to add that our 6th grandchild will be born this spring!!!!

Hi Everyone,
This is my 2nd ivf attempt. This 1st time my MD said 1hr of lying flat after transfer, then just nothing too stenuous for the 1st 2 wks. The result was BFN. Now I'm going to a different clinic with a much higher success rate. They said bedrest for 24hrs mandatory, then highly suggested for next 2 days. I followed the orders. I get preg test this Sunday. Needless to say, I'm on pins & needles & ? everything I do, whether or not it's harmful.
Intellectually I agree that either the embies implant or not, regardless of what I do within reason. But I can't help but worry about even little things like the laundry or taking out the trash.

hi girls: can you describe 24 hr bed rest? I thought it was lying or sitting in bed. Today, my nurse said it was lying flat on your back only, no lying on side to sleep, etc...Have you heard of this? Last time they didn't tell me this. I'm a side sleeper, and I sat in bed to watch tv.
i got a bfn, and am now on another tww.

No, I wasn't told that either. The list of do's and dont's at this stage has become infinte, moreso the latter. I'm a side-sleeper also, so it does worry me., but we can let every little thing worry us. If all these things were facts would they not be stated officially? I'm now going through a bout of rationality an hour ago I was crying . If only there was a way to know.
Hang in there bigwhitehappydog.

Just wanted to say that my ONLY instructions after my ET was to relax. In fact straight after the transfer I hopped off the table, walked out to the recovery area, sat in a lounge chair (with my feet up) and was given a stiff brandy! Its my clinic's policy that all women are offered a Brandy after transfer.

I had EC on monday, ET on wednesday and was back at work the following monday (I am a radiographer and I'm on my feet all day long, bending down to xray peoples feet and carrying heavy equipment).

I didn't have baths (because we are in a drought and aren't allowed) but would have if I felt like one and didn't go swimming (as it was winter!). I did have several orgasms (sorry if TMI but we're passed that aren't we?).

As I type this my nearly 6 month old twin boys are sleeping next to me. They were a result of the two embryo's put back in after that cycle!

So, relax and do whatever you need to get you through the 2WW. More woman get pregnant after a drunk night out then those doing IVF and implantation is no issue.